Zatch blinked and shook her head, why was she dwelling on the past? She had a ship to steer. Zatch had become a fine ferret. She had sleek brown fur with patches of black. Her steely gray-blue eyes (With a small swirl of bloodred in them) focused on the distance. Zatch was smarter than most vermin, swift and stealthy. She could outwit and outfight every dunce on that floating log they call a ship. She snorted with concealed laughter and let her gaze fall on her powerful tattooed paw clutching the tiller. She was the steerbeast of the Bloodsail, but also a valued warrior in the crew. She had started as an oarslave. She saw many beasts come and go yet she somehow managed to survive though those dark years. Until Bladeclaw noticed she had some talents and threw her into the crew, training her in weaponry himself. In her free paw she clutched her deadly double-ball flail. She was amazingly skilled with the odd weapon, one could say as skilled as Martin was with his sword. And stowed in her eelskin belt was a fine dagger . for closer range. Amber hilted with a sapphire pommel stone and a slightly triangular blade, much like the knife of the Taggerung in much later times. Zatch had been taught the art of these weapons her entire life until student slowly surpassed teacher and she became the best fighter on the ship. She was garbed in a loose sky-blue tunic and sported a golden medallion that she had found on the coast of some far off island on a plunder trip. It had some sort of odd script on it that Zatch never really bothered with.
She swung the tiller around; they were heading to some place called Mossflower. She sighed moodily, another plunder trip. Zatch had been dragged to many of these and found much less joy in them than the others. Fight a pack of simple unarmed beasts, no fun or challenge in that. But maybe it was also because she was not like other vermin. She was not evil or cruel, and definitely not a coward. She was as brave and as powerful as any badger lord. But "goodbeasts" seemed to suspect that every vermin was the same. Zatch chuckled, if this were so she would have drowned herself long ago. Who would want to be like that idiot captain that ran that leaky tub? She gazed out at the endless stretches of sea. It was a beautiful day. The sky was a stunningly fine blue, distant seabirds were wheeling and calling around the mainmast. Zatch looked at the endless waves, carrying the large ship easy as a feather. She couldn't resist a smile at the wonderful day, though found herself wishing that she didn't have to spend it all plundering. Zatch heaved a sigh and gazed across the deck, spotting a large figure lumbering towards her.
She rolled her eyes, there was the old dunce now. Captain Bladeclaw was as big as ever. The fat rat was still armed with his old scimitar, which he never seemed to plan on cleaning. Nearly every inch of the dirty blade was badly bloodstained. It's bone hilt was notched with the lives it took. Bladeclaw was known and feared by his skill with the blade. He was, of course, still wearing that filthy red tunic which was now shockingly disgusting. (Zatch winced slightly at the sight of it.) He, of course, always had his trusty weasel Rogrol with him. Rogrol was an odd type indeed. He was stunted and never walked on two paws, but on all fours. Rogrol also never seemed to talk at all, yet somehow offered Bladeclaw advice. Zatch knew if not for Rogrol, the cap'n wouldn't be nearly as successful as he was; perhaps Rogrol just talked to him in secret. Zatch rolled her eyes and threw a lazy salute.
"Ahoy there me dear, auld cap'n! How can I help yer on this fine day?"
Bladeclaw looked at her stupidly, then blinked and smiled clumsily, showing crooked black teeth. He threw and arm around Zatch's shoulder (She shivered in disgust) and replied: "Ahoy me best matey Zatch, we're nearin' the shores o' Mossflow'r. Then we're a-headed to Redwall 'Abbey. 'Tis said there's a wunnerful treasure hidden with'n them great red walls. Haharr, it's everybeast's dream to own such a fortress. And all that stands atween that fortress and us is a few country bumbkins that dwell within the place! So ferret I want you ter fight your best when we get there, y'ear? Show 'em no mercy!"
Zatch ground her teeth visibly, she hated the captain above all else yet somehow managed to control herself from killing him, "Oh I hears yer cap'n, don't you worry."
The captain gave another toothy smile, Zatch clapped a paw to her nose, the captain's breath was as bad as ever. "Good matey, good. I knows yer wont let old cap'n Bladepaw down." And with that he lumbered off, Rogrol scurrying in his wake. Zatch was completely unexcited about this news. She knew he would just get this "treasure" all to himself. But she didn't care anyway, what did she need with treasure anyway. All she wanted was to be free and get away from the Bloodsail, Cap'n Bladeclaw and the whole stinking crew. She rolled her eyes again, that would be the day.
A/N: Haha, Chapters 1 and 2 updated. I was at Ocracoke so I couldn't update. Chapter 3 is coming soon.
